Takayama spent the bulk of his 2009 in All Japan, where he joined his friend Minoru Suzuki's GURENTAI faction. Takayama almost instantly found success, as on March 14th he challenged for and won the Triple Crown from the Great Muta. This made Takayama the first wrestler in history to hold the main heavyweight championship and main heavyweight tag team championship in NOAH, New Japan, and All Japan. In the Champion Carnival, Takayama barely missed out on making the semi-finals when he was upset by Osamu Nishimura on the last day. On May 30th he successfully defended the Triple Crown against faction mate Suzuki, and at Sumo Hall on August 30th he downed Suwama. Takayama finally lost the Triple Crown on September 26th to Satoshi Kojima, ending his six month reign. In the Real World Tag League he teamed with NOSAWA, but the pair came in 7th. It was announced in December that Takayama would be challenging Shinsuke Nakamura for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at the Tokyo Dome on 1/4/10.

Nakamura defeated Takayama at the Tokyo Dome, but Takayama soon went back to NOAH where he won the GHC Heavyweight Tag Team Championship for the second time. After dropping the belt in 2011, Takayama made sporadic appearances in different promotions through the year. He did participate in the New Japan G1 Climax, having success but failing to reach the Finals.